They Didn't Have The Beatles

There is no shortage of words written about The Beatles. Books, magazine articles, more books, dissertations, graffiti, quotes in high school yearbooks. I have nothing new to add, but this is a blog. My blog, and over the years I’ve realized that The Beatles have had an incalculable influence on my life. My childhood memories are forever intertwined with The Beatles’ music, their words, movies, pictures, and their ideas. In my college years into my 20’s, whenever I’d have some sort of kerfuffle with someone who was 15 or more years my senior, I’d say, “Ah, they didn’t have The Beatles – that’s why they are the way they are.” Of course I was wrong, because now those who are running the show and ruining everything did have The Beatles – but this isn’t that kind of post.

When I meet a musician who tells me “I hate The Beatles,” it’s over. O-ver. When I have a friend who tells me "I hate / I don’t like The Beatles" their opinions about music become irrelevant, (and with one exception) I usually can’t be good friends with them. Probably irrational, but I can't help it. It is a chemical reaction that I can't get past.

My very first conversation with The Viscountess turned to music. It turned out that she loved The Beatles, Steely Dan and XTC just like me. When she said, “ (XTC’s) ‘English Settlement’ is one of my favorite albums,” she had me. If she had said, “The Beatles? I can’t believe you like them. I like Journey” it would have been over in that one second.

Anyway - I decided to come up with this list. Might be different tomorrow, today it is this:

Favorite Beatle: John Lennon
Favorite Side*: You Never Give Me Your Money
Favorite Album: Abbey Road
Second Favorite Album: Rubber Soul – American Version

Not My Favorite Like Everyone Else's On The Internet But Still Love It: Revolver

*Note: "Side" in this context means "record" or "recording" as opposed to "song."

Favorite Paul Songs:

Paperback Writer

Getting Better

Martha My Dear

All My Loving
Eleanor Rigby (with a little help on the last verse from John,)

Hello Goodbye
Golden Slumbers

Favorite John Songs:

She Said She Said

Dear Prudence

Yer Blues
Norweigan Wood
Tell Me Why

I Want You

Help
It Won’t Be Long

I Am The Walrus

Favorite George Songs:

Here Comes The Sun

Don’t Bother Me

Think For Yourself

Favorite Cover Song:
Please Mr. Postman (John's vocal performance is amazing on that one!)

Favorite Song That Never Gets Played on the Radio: When I Get Home

Favorite Lyric: Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna
I once closed a resignation letter with that quote when I made the letter public via an e-mail blast. They brought in this textbook AssClown in to "fix" what was not broken and he broke everything. He pretended to elightenment but in reality he was a buffoon. I probably should have quoted "Bodhisattva" but at the time it was the Lennon lyric that came to mind.

The One Song That Defines Who They Were: We Can Work It Out

Yeah, “We Can Work It Out.” If someone comes knockin’ from another planet and they only got time for one, that’s the one I play. Started out as two separate songs, one Paul’s, the other John’s. Paul the optimist and John the cynic. Great singing and harmonies. A little 3/4 time change (or quarter-note triplets - I never got the difference down - I count it 1-2-3 1-2-3) at the end of the phrases of the middle eight. Some understated accordian that adds warmth instead of comedy. How'd they do that?

"We Can Work It Out" is the definition of synergy. Shove that one in the [face] of one those “Relative Objectivist Ayn Rand Disciples” when they start going off on Howard Roarke.

I was there – young – but there. Just getting out of Zen and into Maya. That age. That song was once a new song – a new Beatle record as we called it – on the radio.

So long ago.

I feel privileged to have been alive when it was happening.

I’ve included takes 1 and 2. Take 1 is instrumental. For me it was a revelation to hear it in that form. I can't define what is special about it - some won't understand. Take two is a complete version, but it isn't really clean, so I've also included the final mono mix as well.

From the moment Paul starts singing on 1and (correct me if I'm wrong MT, Ned or Bobby) at the top of the final mix, the record just takes over the room. Pure magic.

The List (cont.)

Crazy opinions that piss off other Beatle fans sometimes:

Billy Preston's playing on "Get Back" detracts from the song.
(Beebadeep beep ba beeep beeep badeeba beep!)

Paul's Vocal performance on "Oh! Darling" is over-the-top.
He should have let John sing it even though Paul wrote it.

"Here, There and Everywhere" is not one of their best songs.
It is lame.

"Mr. Moonlight" is awesome!
It is.

Worst Thing They Ever Did:
Invite "The Anti-Lennon" (Jeff Lynne) to come in and produce, sing and play with them on the "new" songs they recorded in the 90's.